[3] His research focuses on the occurrence, prevention, and treatment of viral respiratory infections in industrialized and developing countries' populations.

Born in Brooklyn, New York City, Monto graduated from Erasmus Hall High School.

[11][12] Monto spent periods as a visiting scientist at Northwick Park Hospital Clinical Research Center in Harrow, England; at the World Health Organization in Geneva, working on implications of lower respiratory tract infections globally; and at the National Research Council, Washington, D.C. organizing studies of the causes of respiratory infections in low-resourced countries.

"Dr. Monto's work has helped us understand the value of measuring vaccine effectiveness in the communities where vaccines are used and taking that data to help enhance influenza prevention programs", said Joe Bresee, Chief of the Epidemiology and Prevention Branch of CDC's Influenza Division.

[20]  During the 1968 influenza pandemic, he found that vaccinating school-age children reduced infection in the entire community, an early demonstration of herd immunity.

[21] Subsequently, he was involved in evaluating a variety of strategies to control influenza including vaccines, antivirals, and non-pharmaceutical interventions such as antiseptic tissues and face masks.

The study has resulted in several notable findings related to natural infection with different viruses and the immune correlates of protection from different influenza vaccines.

Monto is involved in other studies assessing influenza vaccine effectiveness in preventing medical encounters and hospitalization with a goal of improving protection.